About Dr. Hal Wissel

Dr. Hal Wissel has a wealth of experience in the NBA as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, and New Jersey Nets. Hal was also director of player personnel with the Nets and scout and special assignment coach with the Milwaukee Bucks.
As a collegiate head coach, Wissel compiled more than 300 wins along with winning the Division II national championship in 1981 with Florida Southern.

1. Familiarize yourself with the player you are coaching. Learn to listen more than you talk. A player wants to feel comfortable with you and have confidence in you before they work with you. At times you will coach a player that will feel that you think he cannot shoot. Always start with what the player is doing well.
2. Coach each player individually. You do not want a player to learn everything that you know about shooting. You want each player to learn what he wants to know in terms of … [Read more...]

Most basketball players want to improve their shooting. That is good, but to reach your basketball shooting goals takes daily, specific, measurable goal setting and correct practice. For the average player it takes 20,000 correct repetitions to make your shot automatic. If you shoot 1000 correct shots each day, how many days would it take for your shot to be automatic?
The answer is 20 days or less than three weeks. If you shoot 100 correct shots each day, how many days would it take for your … [Read more...]

Errors in shooting off the dribble are caused by picking the ball up with your hands on the side of the ball (a major cause of side spin, which causes the ball to circle out) and floating to the side, in or back (resulting in misses to the side, long or short).
When shooting a jump shot off the dribble it is easier for most players when dribbling to the strong-hand side.
You create space away from your defender with one or two dribbles, then jump behind the ball facing the basket on the … [Read more...]

The most common errors in shooting are listed below, along with suggestions on how to correct them.
Error: Your shot is short.
Correction: A shot that is short is usually due to not using your legs, an incomplete follow-through, or a slow or uneven rhythm. Through feel you should be able to determine whether you need to emphasize force from your legs, complete follow-through by keeping your arm up until the ball reaches the basket, or an even paced rhythm.
Error: Your shot is … [Read more...]

Confidence is the Most Important Factor in Shooting
Believe in yourself. You want to have confidence in your ability to make the shot every time you shoot. Confident shooters control their thoughts, feelings, and shooting skill. Shooting is much more than good mechanics. It is the feeling, thoughts and belief in your self that comes first. Basketball is a mental, as well as a physical, game. Developing the mental aspect is a key to enhancing shooting as well as performance in all … [Read more...]